Page 9 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2023
P. 9

PAKISTAN                                                                                                             PAKISTAN  LINK - OCTOBER 20, 2023 - P9
       Pakistan Conducts Successful Flight                            Former US Officials Ask Pakistan Not to

          Test of ‘Ababeel’ Weapon System                            Deport Afghans Seeking Relocation to US




                                                                   ISLAMABAD: A group of former US
                                                                   diplomats and representatives of reset-
                                                                   tlement  organizations  asked  Pakistan
                                                                   not  to  deport  thousands  of  Afghans
                                                                   who  have  been  waiting  for  US  visas
                                                                   under  an  American  program  that  re-
                                                                   locates at-risk Afghan refugees fleeing
                                                                   Taliban rule.
                                                                     The  appeal  in  an  open  letter  on
                                                                   Wednesday  signed  by  80  former  US
                                                                   officials,  dignitaries  and  resettlement
                                                                   groups came weeks after Pakistan an-
                                                                   nounced a crackdown on migrants liv-
       Pakistan conducts successful flight test of the Ababeel Weapon System on Oc-  ing  in  the  country  illegally,  including
       tober 18 —Radio Pakistan                                    1.7  million  Afghans,  telling  them  to
                                                                   return to their home countries by Oct
       ISLAMABAD:  Pakistan  conducted  gineers from Strategic Organizations.  31 to avoid mass arrest and expulsion.
       a successful flight test of the Ababeel   The  ISPR  said  the  missile  system   Last week, the United Nations said  Afghan refugees hold placards during a gathering in Islamabad, Pakistan, on
       Weapon  System  on  Wednesday,  the  was  “aimed  at  strengthening  deter- such  forced  deportations  of  Afghans  July 21, 2023 – Photo AP /Rahmat Gul
       military’s media wing said.   rence and enhancing strategic stability  could lead to human rights violations,
         In  a  statement,  the  Inter-Service  in the region through the operation- including  the  separation  of  families.  rity forces and public places in recent  take up to 14 to 18 months and cases
       Public  Relations  (ISPR)  said,  “Paki- alization of Full Spectrum Deterrence  However, Pakistan denies targeting Af- years,  prompting  authorities  to  carry  are  processed  through  resettlement
       stan  today  conducted  a  successful  in  the  overall  construct  of  Credible  ghans and says the focus is on people  out operations against insurgents.  support centers.
       flight test of Ababeel Weapon System.  Minimum Deterrence”.  who are in the country illegally, regard-  Four  soldiers  and  six  militants   Thousands  of  Afghan  applicants
       The test flight was aimed at re-validat-  On the occasion, the CJCSC appre- less of their nationality.  were killed in two separate overnight  have been waiting in Pakistan for more
       ing  various  design,  technical  param- ciated the technical prowess, dedica-  On  Thursday,  authorities  in  Paki- shootouts  in  northwest  Pakistan,  the  than two years for US officials to pro-
       eters  and  performance  evaluation  of  tion and commitment of all those who  stan  said  time  was  running  out  for  military  said  Thursday.  It  said  in  a  cess their visa applications. The delay
       different  sub-systems  of  the  weapon  contributed  towards  the  successful  migrants who are living in the country  statement that search operations were  in approving the visas and resettlement
       system.”                      test, the statement said.     illegally and they must return to their  underway  “to  eliminate  any  terrorists  has left Afghan applicants in a highly
         The  launch  was  witnessed  by   It further stated that President Dr  countries before the end of the month.  found  in  the  area”  of  the  North  and  vulnerable  position  as  they  contend
       Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Com- Arif  Alvi,  caretaker  Prime  Minister   Authorities  in  Pakistan  insist  that  South Waziristan districts near the Af- with  economic  hardship  and  lack  of
       mittee General Sahir Shamshad Mir- Anwaarul Haq Kakar and the services  some of the Afghan citizens have been  ghan border.  access  to  health,  education  and  other
       za,  senior  officers  from  the  Strategic  chiefs  congratulated  all  members  of  involved  in  militant  attacks  in  the   Under  US  rules,  applicants  must  services in Pakistan.
       Plans  Division  and  Strategic  Forces  the  Strategic  Forces  on  the  achieve- country in recent months. Pakistan has  first relocate to a third country for their   In the letter sent to Pakistan's care
       Command as well as scientists and en- ment. - Dawn          experienced a surge in attacks on secu- cases to be processed. The process can   (Continued on page 12)

































































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